Semaphore mechanism



No. 748,814. l PATENTE!) JAN. 5, 1904.

w. x1 TAYLOR, JR. SBMAPHORE MEGHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 30. 1903. Y N0 MODEL. y 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 748,814. PATENTBD JAN. 5, 1904.

W. P. TAYLOR, JE,

SBMAPHORE MECHANISM.

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vances, and those features upon which patent `of novel construction which is actuated by ivo. '7451814.-

' v UNITED irritantes january 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM F. TAYLOR, JR., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS D.v TAYLOR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SEMAPHORE MEGHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,814, dated January 5, 1904.

Applies@ find mmh so, 1903.

To all whom, it may concern: v

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. TAYLOR, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Semaphore Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesV to certain new and useful improvements in mechanism for raising and lowering semaphore-arms; and the primary object thereof is to provide a device of this type which can be operated from means stationed in the road-bed or adjacent the trolley-wire when suitable mechanism carried by the respective cars contact therewith.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of this type which is very compact, and, further, the provision of novel means for protecting the mechanism thereof.

Finally,the invention aims to provide means the semaphore-arm when the same assumes the danger position for controlling the operation of the motor.

Broadly, the invention comprises a motor adapted to be energized so that upon its rotating suitable mechanism will be operated for elevating the semaphore-arm. As the' semaphore-arm assumes an elevated position the circuit in which the motor is included is broken byv the semaphore-arm engaging a pivoted lever, one end of which projects through the inclosing casing into the path of travel of the semaphore-arm. The other end of this lever is designed for cooperation witht a pair of metallic studs insulated from each other and designed for operation in a manner which will be hereinafter explained.

Other objects and advantages will be set forth as the description of my invention adprotection is desired will be defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the wayside-post with my improvement mounted thereon. Fig. 2 isa horizontal section taken Serial No. 150,146. (No model.)

vthrough the upper portions of the casings and posts, as illustrated in Fig'. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4 4 55 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. y

`1 indicates a wayside-post provided at a point adjacentv its upper end with the casings 2 and 3, in which the elevating mech- 6o anism of the present invention and the means for holding the arm in its adjusted position are mounted. The casings are preferahly of snchconstruction as to prevent the ingress of rain and other foreign substances, which would interfere with the proper operation of the device.

In the casing 2 is mounted a motor 4, which is provided on itsshaft at one end with a pinion 5, which meshes with a larger cog- 7o wheel 6, carried on the shaft 7. This shaft 7 projects through one side wall of the casing and has rigidly secured to its outer portion the'sem'aphore-arm 8. By this construction it would be apparent that as the motor is driven movement 'will be imparted to the shaft 7 through the gears 5 and 6, respectively, and thus the semaphore-arm will be elevated.

9 indicates an approximately annular cas- 8o ingwhich incloses'the hub of the semaphorearm, which casing is preferably mounted upon the shaft'', but is held against movement therewith by suitable means, such as a sleeve 10, which is secured in any desired manner to the casing 2.

11 11 indicate two metallic studs or projections insnlated from each other at their bases, the same being secured to the top wall of the casing 3 and extending downwardly, as indi- 9o cated in Figs. 3 and 5.

12 is a lever pivoted at 13 within the casing upon a bracket 14, depending from the top thereof, the outer end of said lever projecting through the casing and lying in the path of travel of the sem aphore-arm, as seen in Figs.

2, 3, and 5, so that as the semaphore-arm is operated by the means hereinhefore described the upper edge thereof will engage the outer end of said lever and elevate the same, so as loo to lower its inner end, and thereby disengage the same from the studs 11, and thereby breaking the circuit and preventing further rotation of the motor.

Arranged in the casing 3 at a point below the magnet l1,is a second pair of magnets 15, which are provided with an armature 16, fulcrumed in the bracket 17.

18 indicates a shaft journaled in the side walls of the casing 3 and being provided with a pair of stops 19 and 20.

The pivot of the lever 12 projects a suitable distance beyond the bracket 14 and has loosely mounted upon its extended portion the latch 21. The forward end of this latch is contracted and extends through a slotin the front wall of the casing 2, so as to be engaged by the spring-pressed bolt 22 of the semaphorearm. This latch is normally forced so as to project through the casing by a spring 23 and is provided at a point adjacent its lower end with a tailpiece 24, which is engaged by the stop 20. The other stop 19 is designed for engagement with the armature 16, as will be hereinafter described.

In the present invention I desire to obtain protection only upon the mechanism shown and not upon the successful means for completing the circuits for operating the motor and the magnets 15, which are preferably completed from contact-plates arranged in the road-bed or adjacent the trolley-wire.

The operation of my invention is as follows: As the approaching electric car passes the contacts, arranged as hereinbefore stated and which arrangement is common in the art, the contacts being of sufficient length to give a contact of sufficient length of time to operate the motor, the current-arm contacting therewith, the circuit will be completed through the wire 25 to the left-hand stud 11, down said stud through the brass plate resting upon the upper surface of the lever 12, it being assumed that the said lever is normally with its inner end in contact with said studs. The current thence passes along to the bottom extremity of the right-hand stud 11, thence through the wire 26 to the motor 4,which latter, actuating the gear mechanism, hereinbefore described, raises the semaphore-arm, striking the lower surface of the outer extremity of the lever 12, thus tilting the latter out of con tact with the studs 11 and breaking the circuit. The retractile spring 28 first exerts a downward tension upon the outer end of the lever, which tilts the opposite end of said lever, with its brass contact-plate, into engagement with the studs 11. To aid this downward tension exerted by the spring 28, the outer end of the lever may be weighted or made heavier than its other arm. After the lever v12 has been tripped the bolt 22 engages the nose or contracted forward end of the latch 21, which depresses the latch 22, and

'after passing above the spring-pressed bolt will be forced outwardly at a point above the latch 21, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and thereby prevent the semaphore-arm from lowering. After the car has passed from the block in weight will swing the latch 2l inwardly and then assume a lowered position. After the latch-bolt 22 of the semaphore-arm has passed the latch 21 the spring 23 returns the parts to their normal positions.

In the foregoing I have described what I at the present time believe to be a device which will accurately perform the functions assigned to it. It is obvious, however, that in the manufacture thereof it may be found advisable to make slight alterations in the detail construction thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes and alterations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the rotatablymounted shaft, and the semaphore-arm carried thereby, of a motor, contact-studs in the motor-circuit insulated from each other, a pivoted lever carrying a contact-bridge to close the circuit, a latch pendent from the pivot of said lever, a pinion carried by the said shaft, a pinion secured to the motorshaft and meshing with the first-named pinion, electrical connections for operating the said motor, whereby the semaphore-arm will be elevated, and means coperating with said latch for holding the said arm in its elevated position.

2. The combination with a suitable support, of a casing mounted thereon, a shaft journaled in the said casing and having one of its ends projecting through one of the walls thereof, a semaphore-arm mounted on a 'projecting portion of the said shaft, means for rotating the said shaft, contact-studs in the motor-circuit and depending within the casing and insulated from each other, a pivoted lever carrying a contact-bridge to close the circuit and having one end arranged in the path of said semaphore-arm and the other end adapted to engage said studs, a latch suspended from the pivot of said lever, and means coperating with said latch to prevent lowering of the semaphore-arm.

3. The combination with the casing and the supporting means therefor, of a shaft journaled in the said casing, a semaphore-arm rotatable with the said shaft, a motor, contact-studs in the motor-circuit depending from the casing and insulated from each other, a pivoted lever carrying a contactbridge to close the circuit in connection with said studs, means for energizing the said IPO IIO

masia motor, said shaft being operatively connected to the said motor, a latch pivotally suspended, means cooperating with said latch for holding the said arm in its elevated position and means for releasing the said arm.

4. The combination with the casing and the semaphore-arm rotatably mou nted therein, of a motor for elevating the said arm, a pivoted lever having its outer end lying in the path of travel of the said arm, a pair of studs insulated from each other and in circuit with said motor, and adapted for coperaion with said lever, means for holding the said arm in adjusted position, and means for permitting the semaphore-arm to be lowered.V

5. The combination with the casing and the shaft journaled therein,of the semaphore-arm secured to the said shaft, a pinion mounted on the said shaft, a motor, a pinion carried by the shaft of the said motor and meshing With the first-named pinion, means for energizing the said motor for elevating the said arm, a pair of studs insulated from each other and included in the motor-circuit, a pivoted lever for coperation with said studs and carrying a contact-bridge to close the circuit, said lever having its outer end extending in the path of travel of the said semaphore-arm, means for holding the semaphorearm in `its elevated position, and means forreleasing the said locking means.

6.' The combination with a post and casings thereon disposed at right angles to each other, of a pivotallymounted semaphore-arm, a motor operatively connected' therewith to actuate the same, a pair of studs insulated from each other and included in the motor-circuit,

a pivoted lever carrying a contact-bridge to close the circuit and adapted for cooperation with said studs and having its outer end projecting into the path of said arm, a latch depending from the pivot of said lever and having a tailpiece, a set of magnets, an armature therefor and means interposed between said armature and the latch.

7. The combination with a post and casings thereon disposed at right angles to each other, of a pivotaliy-mounted semaphore-arm, a motor operatively connected therewith to actuate the same, a pair of studs insulated from each other and included in the motor-circuit, a pivoted lever carrying a contact-bridge to close the circuit and adapted for coperatiou with said studs and having its outer end projecting into the path of said arm, a latch depending from the pivot of said lever and havlng a tailpiece, a set of magnets, an armature therefor, means interposed between said -armature and the latch, and a spring-actuated bolt engaging said latch.

8. The combination with a post and casings thereon disposed at right angles to each other, of apivotally-mounted semaphore-arm, a motor operatively connected therewith to actuate the same, a pair of studs insulated from each other and included in the motor-circuit, a pivoted lever carrying a contact-bridge to close the circuit and adapted for cooperation with said studs and having its outer end pr0- jecting into the path of Said arm, a latchdepending from the pivot of said lever and having a tailpiece, a set of magnets, an armature therefor, a shaft and stops thereon, one in the path of the armature and the other in the path of the tailpiece of said latch.

9. The combination With a post and casings thereon disposed at right angles to each other, of a pivotally-monnted semaphore-arm, a motor operatively connected therewith to actu- 'ate the same, a pair of studs insulated from each other and included in the motor-circuit and adapted-for cooperation with said studs and having its outer end projecting into the path of said arm, a latch depending from the pivot of said lever and having a tailpiece, a set of magnets, an armature therefor, a shaft, stops thereon, one in the path of said armature and the other in the path of said tailpiece, a spring acting on the latch and a bolt adapted to engage the end of the said latch.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

W'ILLIAM F. TAYLOR, JR.

Witnesses:

THOMAS D. TAYLOR, HoRA'rIo E. BELLoWs. 

